While Thursday’s Premier League clash is not quite the epic title decider many predicted last August, the stakes are still high.

The losing side will have to start facing up to the real possibility of finishing outside of the top four.

You could argue that the game is more important for Guardiola and City, because as Mourinho has repeatedly pointed out, his side still have the chance to qualify for the Champions League, via the Europa League.

MOST READ IN FOOTBALL

Clear plan

Rae insists Gers chiefs will be FAILING at their jobs if Clarke is not on radar

'IS HE THE FULL SHILLING?'

Rangers flop Barton's incredible personal attack on Scott Brown

'A FAILURE'

Boyd says Barton spent more time playing golf than football in Scotland

Well warpath

Super Sunday

Charlie Miller on the time his p**hed pals challenged Simon Donnelly to a game

'UNBELIEVABLE'

Cedric Kipre aims swipe at 'hard man' Scott Brown after red card

The Portuguese also has the EFL Cup in the bank, and it would be interesting to see the reaction in the City boardroom if Guardiola not only finished the season trophy-less but outside the Champions League places too.

At almost any other stage of the season both managers would probably take a point this evening.

But, it’s late April, and even with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Marcos Rojo absent through injury, the chance to leapfrog City in fourth is too much for Mourinho and his ego to ignore, despite the carrot of the Europa League.

Guardiola’s City won the league clash at Old Trafford earlier this season

It’s also 1-0 to Guardiola in the Premier League head-to-head battle, and even though Mourinho was victorious in the EFL Cup tie in October, he won’t want two Manchester derby defeats on his record in the same season.

It was far from pretty last September watching the first Premier League meeting between the two managers. As United fans, we left worried.

Having bounced into the fixture with a 100 per cent record we were brought down to earth by City and a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. Ouch.

It wasn’t just the defeat either, it was the manner. On the day, United looked lethargic and unsure of what their manager was demanding, while City played with freedom and zest and at that point looked like the outstanding side in the division.

Seven months on and while things haven’t swung completely back in United’s favour, Mourinho’s team are on a 23-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and fans are already looking ahead to the next campaign with renewed hope.

With both managers expected to spend significantly again in the summer, Thursday’s match is unlikely to provide an indication of what might happen next season.

Marcus Rashford is back in scoring form and has struck against City before

The question both sets of fans should be asking though is which manager has learned more from their first year in charge?

Can you see Guardiola changing his style and making City tighter at the back? And for United, is it really just more goals they need as Mourinho suspects?

One thing’s for sure and that’s from August the honeymoon period will well and truly be over for Guardiola and Mourinho, and in 12 months time they’ll be expected to be fighting it out in the top two positions, rather than scrapping for fourth. Enjoy the match!